Sliders for slide fasteners



Feb. 26, 1957 B. M. MERCER 2,782,481

I SLIDERS FOR SLIDE FASTENERS Filed Aug. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l In. A 1

g 3/ 3a 24 43 a7 40 3/ INVENTOR.

5.5/97 MME/ecE/e BY P U te States Patent 2,782,481 srmnns ron SLIDE FASTENERS Bert M. Mercer, New York, N. Y.

Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,616

1 Claims. c1. 24-20515 This invention relates to sliders for slide fasteners of the type in which opposed series of interlocking fastening elements are mounted respectively upon the edges of flexible tapes or stringers and are engaged or disengaged by movement of the sliders along the elements longitudinally of the stringers, and more particularly, to automatically expansible sliders of which the body porti-ons expand or separate slightly when tension is applied and which automatically resume their closed position when the tension is removed.

Sliders for slide fasteners occasionally become stuck or jammed so that they cannot be moved in either direction. Such jamming usually occurs when either the free edges of the stringer tape,1or the free edges of the. hem or of the garment material to which the stringer is sewn, or the material from the undergarment becomes snagged or wedged between the slider and the interlocking fas tening elements. In such an event, the users of the slide fasteners are required to apply an extra amount of force to free the slider from the jam which often results in tearing either the garment to which the material is sewn or the undergarment. Occasionally a jammed slider may leave no alternative other than to cut jammed cloth away to free it from the slider and the stringer. The additional force applied to free a slider from a jam may cause the rear yoke of the slider to give away so that the top and bottom wings become spread in opposite directions sufficiently to permit the slider from becoming disengaged from the stringer tape. When the interlocking elements of the stringer tape become slightly damaged, they may cause the slider to drag over such damaged elements. The extra force required to move the slider over such damaged elements bears an abnormal amount of pressure upon the upper and lower wings so that they may gradually spread apart over a period of time and eventually become disengaged from the stringer much to the sudden surprise and dismay of the user.

To overcome the problem of freeing a slider from a snag, sliders have heretofore been made with a loose tolerance between the wings of the slider and the interlocking fastening elements. A slider with a loose fit upon the stringer will usually accomplish its purpose in freeing itself from a jam but a loose fitting slider permits snags to occur more easily, and consequently more often than with the use of a close fitting slider. Snags should be avoided for they damage the snagged material, especially sheer undergarments, even though the slider can easily be loosened from the snag. Therefore loose fitting sliders are undesirable in this respect.

Other sliders which are desi'gnedto permit the'slider from being freed from a snag require a special manual operation to be performed by the user before the wings can be spread apart. Manual operations are often confusing or'cumbersome either because the user forgets how to work the mechanism, or the mechanism; itself is confusing and requirestoo. high a degree of manual dexterity, or theslider is positioned in a region of the garment-which .is tooinacces'sibl'e'for' the normalmanipula; tion of the mechanism.

2,782,481 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 ICE It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide an improved slider for slide fasteners which has a yielding construction which will permit the upper and lower wings to automatically spread apart slightly in order to permit the slider to pass over or free itself from a jam or obstruction such as a piece of cloth lodged between one of the wings of the slider and the stringer tape, or from one or more slightly defective interlocking elements which may have inadvertently become slightly damaged; and when the slider has freed itself from the jam or has passed beyond the obstruction, the wings will automatically resume their former closed position and close fit upon th interlocking elements of the stringer tape.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved slider which can be removed from a snag or obstruction without requiring the user to first perform a manual operation upon the slider.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved slider which has a yielding construction which will prevent the permanent spreading apart and dislocation of its upper and lower wings due to normal and abnormal pressure upon such wings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a slider which has a yielding construction which will permit its wings to open or separate, but not to become totally disconnected from the stringer so that the slider is always in an operative condition.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a'slider of the afore-mentioned type, which is adaptable to all sizes of sliders normally worn on garments.

It is another objectlof this invention to provide a slider which will perform the afore-mentioned improvements yet will have a general appearance similar to the conventional sliders of the present art.

Still further objects of the invention will appear to persons skilled in the art to which it appertains, as the description proceeds, both by direct recitation thereof and by implication from the context.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like nmerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. "1 is a top plan of a slider embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line Z2 of Fig.1, showing the slider in a closed position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, similar to, and taken on the same line 2-2, as Fig. 2, but showing the slider in a spread but operative position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is aperspective view, looking down towards the upper wing before assembly with the other parts;

Fig, 6 is a perspective view looking down towards the lowerwing before assembly with other parts;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view looking upward towards the underneath or inside of the upper wing before assembly with the other parts;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the spring securing rivet;

Fig. 9 is a top plan of a modified slider showing the use of a pin for the spring securing means; a

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1 0-10 of. Pig. 9, showing the slider in its closed position; I

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the same line as shown inFig. 10, but showing the slider in a spread, but operative, .position;

"Fig. 12 isa transverse sectional view taken on line 12-12 .of Fig. 10; Fig. 13 is a medial longitudinal'sectional view showing anothermodified form of the slider in its spread-but operative position; r -Fig 14 isa medial-longitudinal sectional-view showing;

a'fur'ther modification of the slider showing the slider in its closed position;

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 15 of Fig. 14; I

Fig. leis a fragmentary iongitaatinarseenensi view of still another modification or the slider showing the slider in its closed position.

In its general organization the present invent-ion is directed to an expansible slider comprising upper and lower wings so formed as 'to provide a Y-shaped convergingguide channel for the interlocking fastening elements which are attached to opposing interlocking elements on flexible tapes or stringers, the interlocking elements being interlocked together by an upwards .or rearward movement of the slider; and unlocked or separated when the slider is moved downward or forward upon the stringer. These stringers and interlocking fastening members form no part of the present invention and are not illustrated because they are well known to those familiar in the art. The upper and lower Wings areheld in spaced relationship with each other by interfitting connecting means which, with theme of spring devices,- maintain the wings in a releasable closed posit-ion, yet at the same time permit the Wings to automaticallyex-pand or spread when undue pressure from the stringer is applied upon the insides of the wings, and to automatically .resume their closed position when such pressure is removed; and with means to limit the extent of the expansion so that the slider will be in an operative condition while in an expanded position.

In the specific embodiment of the inventionrepresented by Figs. 18, the body of the slider is eor'npris'ed'of an upper body portion or Wing and a separate bottom wing 21 which are located,- in closed relationship, in parallelism one above the other, and have a peripheral shape or contour flaring laterally intermediate or the forward and rearward ends thereof. The upper and lower wings have extending and interfitting lugs or studs in the longitudinal medialrear portion of the wings which constitute the generally referred to neck or yoke of the slider.

The upper and lower wings'20 and 21 have side walls or flanges 2 2 and 23' respectively extending from their forward ends to substantially midway or the length of the Wings, each side flange of one wing being directly opposed by a like side flange of the other wing.- Th'e'se side flanges cooperate to form a channel 24 for reception of the rows of interlocking" elements of tliestringer, saidfianges in closed position of the" wingseonfining said elements to slidewithin saidchannel: The side" flanges of one wing do not quite meet the side flanges of the other wing, thereby leaving a gap throug'li whichthe stringer tape that carries the fastener elements may-pretrud'c. Longitudinally at? the rearwardport'idn of said wings is the central divider or neekgthe apex of which extends forwardly toward the space between the side flanges so as to form said channel substantially iiithe shape of a short-stemmed V.

The arbitrarily selected means by' which the upper and lower Wings are interfitted is clearly shown inthe perspective views of Figs. 5-7. The post 26 at the rear of the neck of the lower wing 21 projects upwardly and is slidingly engaged into the opposingu shape'd vertical channel 27 located at the corresponding rearportionof the neck of the upper wing" 20 and which 'clia'nne'ltends upwards into lug 27a which is situated at the medial r'car 'erid of the top exterior ofthe upperwing 20. Likewise; the forward post 28* ofthe neck portion" of the lower wing 21 is slidingly" reoeive'dby'an' opposing'hole' and vertical r'ecess 29- so that saidpost" extends-upward through such hole in the upper wing ZOuand-in'tt) lug 30located at the medial 'por-tionof top-exteriorof the upper wing. The for-ward circular portion} of the polygonal shaped stud-like downward projection 31 of theneclearea ofthe upper wing20 is slidin'gly engeg'edb'etween the rear and forward posts 26 and 28 respectively or the neck area or the lower wing 21; and the rear portion of such stud 31 assumes the shape of two webs which form channel 27, and said webs will be juxtaposed with rear post 26. Two short downward projections 32, one under each bottom edge of stud 31 of the upper wing, are slidingly received by two twin apertures 33 in the bottom wing 21.

The polygonal shaped stud 31 contains a. recess or socket 34 which has its opening at the top side of the upper wing 20, in which socket a compressed coil spring 35 is positionecl, by a securing r ivet 36, the head of which fits slidingly betweenthe upper wihg lugs 27a and 29. The cylindrical shank 37 of this rivet passes through the coils of the compressed spring 35, and then slidingly through an aperture 38 at the bottom of the springs socket 34 and then snugly through a bore 39 in the lower wing 21. At the bottom of the rivet is an cnd head 40 which is formed by appropriate means to maintain the rivet in position underneath the lower wing 21. w I I I Figs. 24 clearly illustrate the position of the securing rivet assembly 36 which extends from below the lower wing 21 to above the compressed coil spring 35, The rivet therefore represents an extended portion of the lower wing 21. The compres'sed spring 35 when press; ing upward against the restraining head of the rivet 36 is in eifect forcing the lower wingupward; and since the spring is restingin the socket 34 of the upper wing 20 itis simultaneouslypressing downward upon the socket 34 and thereby creating a downward tension upon the upper wing 20. The tension of the compressed coil spring 35 thereby forces the upper and lower wings towards each other so that the wings constantly maintain their expansibly closed parallel position with relation to. each other; Since the posts and stud in the neck area of both the upper and lower wings are slidingly juxtaposed; they perni'it the wings to separate or spread apart parallelly for a distance limited by the head of the securing rivet 36. The juxtaposed and interfitt'ing relationship of the posts, s'tud,- and lugs of both wings hold the wings in a slid ingly rigid relationship and provide that the wings will be coiistantly maintained against lateral displacement while the wings are in either a closed or spread posinon The pin-tls 41} of the pull tab 42 pivot in the transverse pull ta hole 43" located in the lug 30 of the'upper wing 20; If while thes'lideris'pulled along the stringer it passes obstructiondue to an imperfect or damaged interlockihg faisltiief; the pressure upon either one orboth wings caused by'th e obstriibtion' will force the wings to autoniatically spread apart paraneu thusperniit'ti'ng the wings topass" over the obstruction; if only a comparatively little extra pulling force" is applied to thelpu'll tab; The slider may thus spread and pass over an imperfect interlocking element without the u'se'r being aware of su'ch a'ction-takin place"; Wheiiajani or shag is c'aused'by a piece'ot' material lodging between are wing and the stringer, itwill cause" the normal movement of the s l-ider upon the stringer to centers a stop; In siich an;event,' the'user is usually aware that it is often" impossible to'forc'e a slider topass a snag and insteadthen ef will pull the slider int-heopposite' direction iri'order to free the slider from tnesnag When ashag oc thewing: of the slider are forced to automate-an e pand or separateparalllly by the" niateri'a'l jamnied between thewirig and the" stringer. The separation of the reddes ;thi a'niouiit oftension" inn'wotiid-etnerwisabe present and the usnby eit'eiting ma nativel little extra pulling orce u on the" tab 42; witreasnyne abletdmove slider dve i andaway from'tliefsnaggedriiaterial. Dairiage'to th e maggeamare; -o. .1 d r l 7,; t'm" fl-r not uncommon with sliders whose wings are not automatically expansible.

The extent of the automatic separation of the wings is measured and restricted by the height of the space between the bottom edge 44 of the head of the securing rivet 36 and the top surface of the upper wing 20, which limited spreading distance is best shown in Fig. 4, such limit being reached when the bottom rivet edge 44 abuts the surface of the upper wing 20. The extent of the expansion of the wings will vary depending upon the size of slider, but it will preferably be so limited as to permit the slider to be efficiently operative in its fullest spread position.

A modified form of means to secure the compressed coil spring is shown in Figs. 9-12. The posts, stud and lugs of the upper and lower wings 2t) and 21, which when interfitted are referred to generally as the neck area, are similar in their general appearance to those shown in Figs. 5-7, but separate reference numerals are applied thereto because of the modifications in their detailed structures. As shown in Figs. -11, the rear post 45 of the neck area of the lower wing 21, and the forward post 46 of the same neck area both project upward through the opening apertures in the upper wing 20, the rear aperture leading into a vertical recess 46a in the rear lug 48 situated on top exterior of the upper wing 20, into which post 45 is slidingly received; and the forward aperture leading into a vertical channel 47a is formed in the medial top exterior of lug 49 into which post 46 is similarly slidingly interfitted. The polygonal shaped stud 51, which is in general similar to stud 31, shown in Fig. 7, and which projects downward from the upper wing 20, is likewise slidably interfitte d and juxtaposed with bottom posts 45 and 46. Two short downward projections 50, one at either side edge at the bottom of said stud 51 are slidingly received by corresponding opposing apertures 52 in the lower wing 21. A recess or socket 53 is situated within stud 51 with an opening at the top side of the upper wing to house the compressed coil spring 35. Each of the lower wing posts 45 and 46, which juxtapose the socket 53, have a longitudinal bore at their upper extremities through which bores 21 pin 47 passes over the center of the compressed spring 35 and thereby maintains the spring in its compressed position. Since the pin 47 is securely positioned in the lower wing posts 45 and 46, such pin is representative of the lower wing and the compressed spring is thereby applying an upward tension upon the lower wing 21 by pressing upward upon the pin 47. Simultaneously, the spring is also applying a downward pressure on its housing or socket 53 which is representative of the upper wing so that both wings are being constantly urged towards each other by the springs tension. When an obstruction spreads the wings apart parallelly the extent of such expansion is limited to the height of the space between the pin 47 and the top surface of the wing 20. The upper wing will abut the pin when the wings have been spread to their maximum expansiveness. For the sake of appearance only, the pin is here shown substantially covered by two cars 54 located longitudinally on the top exterior of the upper wing at either side of the opening of the spring housing 34, and which are bent towards each other over the pin 47 as best shown in Fig. 12.

Another modified form of slider using a compressed coil spring is shown in Fig. 13 in which the upper and lower wings pivot upon a hinge. In this modified form the rear post 55a and forward post 56a both project upwardly from the neck area of the lower wing 21, and they interfit through the opposing apertures which lead into recesses in both the rear lug 57 and into the medially forward lug 58 suitably on the top exterior of the upper wing 20. The forward portion of the polygonal shaped stud 55 which pro ects downward from the neck area of the upper wing 20 is positioned between lower posts 55a and 56a, and its rear portion, which assumes the shape of a vertical channel, is juxtaposed to the lower rear post 55a. The upper extremities of the lower wing rear post 55a and the top exterior rear lug 57 which juxtaposes post 55a constitute the hinge stock, each stock having a transverse hole for the reception of a hinge pin 56. By virtue of the interengaging side surfaces of such hinge stock, which are pivotally fastened together by the hinge pin 56, the wings 20 and 21 are maintained against lateral displacement and the wings are maintained parallelly when the slider is in a closed position. The arbitrarily selected showing by which the wings are hinged to each other enables the wings to move relative to each other about the pin 56 as a pivot whenever an obstruction forces the wings to spread apart. The rivet assembly 36, the compressed spring 35, and the socket on housing 34 for the spring all function in the manner similar to that explained with reference to Figs. 1-8 and permit the wings to automatically spread over an obstruction and to regulate the extent of the spreading of such wings.

A further modified form of slider is shown in Figs. 14 and 15 in which an expansion spring is employed. The position of the posts and the polygonal shaped stud are reversed in relationship with each other as compared to their position shown heretofore. A rear post 59 and a forward post 60 both projecting downward from the neck area of the upper Wing 2s slidingly interfit with a polygonal shaped stud 61 which generally resembles stud 31 shown in Fig. 7, except that stud 61 projects upward from the lower wing 21. The rear end of the stud 61 projects upward with a pair of spaced vertical flanges forming a channel, not shown, in the figures, but similar to the vertical channel 27, shown in Fig. 7. The upper extremities of this channel at the top surface of the upper wing is formed by two vertically spaced ears 62 juxtaposed to a rear medial top surface lug 63 on the upper wing 20. The twin cars 62 extend forward longitudinally to join the medially forward lug 64 on the upper wing.

Between the upper wing top exterior lugs 63 and 64 is an aperture which leads into an opposing recess in the stud 61 of the bottom wing, which, when combined, is referred to as a housing 65 for the extension spring 66 which has a vertical loop 67 on bottom and another vertical loop 68 on its upper extremity. At the base of the stud 61 are two transverse bores 69 which are medial of the housing 65; and through the ears 62 on the upper wing are a similar set of transverse bores 71) directly in a vertical line with the lower set of bores 6%. A pin 71 is positioned in the set of bottom bores 69 and through the bottom vertical coil 67 at the bottom of the housing 65, and another pin 72 is positioned in the set of bores 70 and through the vertical coil 68 situated at the upper extreme of the housing 65. Since the pull or tension of an extension spring is directed towards itself, the pins 71 and 72, to which the extension spring is attached, are being pulled toward each other which is synonymous to saying that the upper and lower wings are being pulled toward each other because these pins, which are permanently affixed in position in the upper and lower wings, are representative of such wings. The extension spring will permit the wings to automatically spread parallelly and to automatically close again in the same manner as described in the previous embodiment of this invention.

A still further modified form of the slider is shown in Fig. 16 which portrays the use of a torque spring, the remaining elements of the slider being similar to the construction of the elements shown in Figs. 1-7 and hence the same reference numbers have been applied to these elements. In this modified form, a torque spring 73 which is wound in a coil about its own stem 74- is compressed and positioned in the housing or socket 34, and such stem is directed through an aperture 33 in the housing 34 and another aperture 39 directly underneath through the lower wing. These two lower apertures are not clearly shown here, but the numerals refer to the corresponding apertures shown in Figs. 1-7 which 7 are therein shown to be r'ne'rely sor'iiewhat'wider than those indicated inFig. l6. 'An-a'rbit'rarily-silected triearis is here shownro secure the stem 7410 the underside of the lower wing 21 ill the form of a head Pin 75 formed of the stem 74.

The upper coils of the spring 73 a're'p'ress'ing upwardly which in the case of a torque spring is equivalent to pulling its own stem upward. Since this jstem 74 is attached to the underneath side of the lowerfwirig, such lower wing is being pulled iipward. The lower coils of the spring 73 are pressing in a downward direction and since the lower coil is resting upon the bottom 'of the housing 34 which is c'en't'ain'ed iii "the stud 31, projecting from the upper wing, the bottom boil is, in effect, pressin'g 'the u'p'per wing downwardl Therefore, the upward pull upon the lower wing and the downward pressing of the upper wing create the necessary tension to force the wings toward each other and thus cause them to maintain their expansibly closed parallel positidn.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a slider for slide fasteners having a spring member which can be conveniently and easily attached to the slider body, and which expansibly maintains the wings of the slider in permanent parallel closed engagement with each other and at the same time permits such wings to automatically separate only suffiei'en'tly to pass over an obstruction between such wings, but without lessening the operating efiicien'cy of the slider, and when such obstruction is passed, the spring will autoinatically compel the wings to resume its former 'con'i pletely closed position without the users being required to perform any special manual function. It will also be noted that my slider is neat in appearance and is of sturdy construction which will enable the slider to be operated with permanent efficiency throughout its constant use.

While I have shown and described several emboda ments which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

-I claim:

l. A slider for slide fasteners, comprising wings b'f which one overlies another in normally parallel and spaced relation and each wing having a channel portion with the respective said channel portions registering one with the other, a first one of said wings having a post projecting toward the other wing and said other wing having a hollow stud projecting toward the said first wing, said post and stud being in substantially ih'terfittiug and longitudinally movable engagem'eh't with each other and maintaining said wings in operative relationship with 8 each other and permitting limited movement of said wings toward and away from each other, resilient means in the hollow of said stud actuating said wings into normal position toward each other, and stop means 'for limiting approach and separation of said wings.

2. A slider for "slide fasteners, comprising wings of which one overlies another in normally parallel and spaced relation and each wing having a channel portion with the respective said channel portions registering one with the other, a first oneof said wings having a pair of posts projecting toward the other wing, one of said posts being at the rear end of said first wing and the other said post being intermediate of the ends of said first wing, and a second one of said wings having a stud interposed between s'aidiposts and movable as an entity in a direction longitudinally of said post's, said stud having a hollow thereinat a part thereof between said posts, resilient means in said hollow, and a rivet-like member extending from said first wing into the hollow of said stud of the second wing and in tensioning engagement with said resilient means.

3. A slider for slide fasteners in accordance with claim 2, wherein said posts are recessed and wherein said stud has portionsthereof riding in said recesses.

4. A slider for'slide fasteners in accordance with claim 2, wherein said rivet-like member has a head substantially closing an end of said hollow of said stud.

5'. 'As slider in accordance with claim 1, wherein said resilient means comprises a coil spring housed within said hollow stud.

'6. A slider in accordance with claim 1, wherein said posts for 'limitirigapproach and separation of said wings consists of arivet-like member which pierces both wings withfthe head of the rivet-like member overlying and substant-ially, closing an end of said hollow of said stud.

7. A-slider in accordance with claim 1, wherein a hinge pin transverse to said post and stud and offset therefrom connectsrsaid wings at the rear thereof and cooperates with said post and stud in providing longitudinally movable retention of the post and stud in operative relation to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1, 51 Denner-Meier Nov. 3, 1914 2,313,377 Wallace May 18, 1943 1,443,192. PoilX -4 Aug. 31, 1948 2,435,401 Gers'tman Nov. 1, 1949 2,666,970 Grant Jan. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 638,646 Germany -t 0151 936 

